Optimism grows for a potential Chris Johnson deal

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on August 30, 2011, 9:40 PM EDT

AP

It’s that time of year.

Extensions are getting worked out. Disgruntled players are becoming gruntled. It’s about time that the only holdout in the league comes to terms, and there are increasing signs that could happen in the next week.

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi said Tuesday night that the Titans are “ready to make an offer” that would get Chris Johnson under contract.

“They’ve opened up the bank vault. . . . . It looks like they’re going to pay him,” Lombardi said Tuesday night, indicating a potential deal is possible by the end of the weekend.

Meanwhile, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports broke down the divide between the two sides. He wrote Tuesday morning Johnson was looking for $30 million guaranteed, with a $12 million-per-year average. The Titans are reportedly offering $20 million guaranteed and $8 million-per-year.

That gap can be bridged. We thought Johnson might be pushing for a more unreasonable guaranteed sum.

These types of holdouts usually end in time for the player to play in Week One, and it looks like we could be headed in that direction.

I wouldn’t pay him as much as he wants. Top RB $ seems fair but he will complain the second another RB (read: Peterson) gets a better deal. I doubt it will matter much anyway. What is the historical data on holdouts getting injured soon after they return? I bet it is pretty high. If he and his agent balk at a respectable offer, then give him a 5 day letter as he walks out the door.

doctorfootball says:Aug 30, 2011 9:48 PM

The guy hasn’t played in a loooong time. I smell “hamstring pull” for Chris Johnson this year.

Pay one player a ridiculous amount of money because he’s just that good or can bring fans in through the gate?

Think about Peyton Manning. One of the best QB’s of his era if not ever. Colts would suck without him. But can they win it all this year or next year with him? Sorry, but I don’t think so. So why spend the $90 M?

My question is, can Chris Johnson be the difference in winning a Super Bowl in the next two or three years or can he sell enough tickets to justify the paycheck?

With the new CBA it seems like there’s going to be a learning curve and some teams will get smacked upside the head.

I guess my point is teams like the Titans are in a no win situation. Signing one special player isn’t going to make the difference in winning a Super Bowl anytime soon.

Hes under contract for the next 2 years so hes gonna have to settle for less than market value if he wants a new contact now. 10 million a year for how ever long they want with 40% guaranteed is reasonable for both sides. He deserves to get paid but he needs to understand hes going to get less than market value.

Where would the Detroit Lions have been without Barry Sanders? You takeaway Barry Sanders and we’re calling the Detroit Lions, The Idaho Potatoes. Detroit was a losing francise year after year with Barry and they still soldout every game just to see him play. Chris Johnson has done things on the football field that has kept the fans wanting to see what he’s gonna do next. You gotta spend money to make money and this guy is your meal ticket Mr. Adams.

imo the titans would be foolish to pay him that much they already offered 9 mil. per year i forgot the guarenteed amount but it would have made him the highest paid back in the league and he thumbed his nose at it. if i were in charge in tenn. i would call his bluff he is just not worth it i know some ten. fans may not agree but he is not worth it. for that kind of money tenn. could sure some other areas of the team that need it and be more of a contender rather than blow it all one one selfish player

Well as soon as he signs my 2nd round pick (15th overall) becomes the steal of my fantasy draft. It’s crazy to see how far he’s fallen in mock drafts and the cheers sheets. Of course hes gonna sign before the season starts. Both sides need each other for them to make money. If you’re drafting this weekend and he’s still not signed yet, don’t be the guy that passes him up if he falls to you in the late 1st round or early 2nd.

marthisdil says:
Aug 30, 2011 10:08 PM
They shoulda let him rot. Sit out 2 years…by then his skills will be next to nothing.

Players under contract need to uphold them. If they wanna protest and sit out, let em sit out, rack up the fines that they have to pay back when they come back, groveling, for a paycheck.
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The same way NFL teams uphold them? Oh wait, they don’t. That’s why you only here about guaranteed money with NFL contracts. MLB and NBA players get whatever their full contract is worth. NFL will drop you on a dime after the year you get injured or restructure your contract if you take a step back in your game. To think the players shouldn’t do the same is hypocritical.

Players under contract need to uphold them. If they wanna protest and sit out, let em sit out, rack up the fines that they have to pay back when they come back, groveling, for a paycheck.
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Owners are not required to uphold contracts and can cut players at will. If I had the opportunity to make ten times my annual salary, you better believe I would do everything I could to do that.

Now that he’s alienated his fanbase (and I don’t just mean Titans fans, I mean specifically CJ fans), he’ll have to return to form–the form we haven’t seen in his last 21 games. Four yards per carry won’t win us back. One touchdown run of more than 40 yards every 20 games won’t win us back. Good luck with that, CJ. No, I mean it. Good luck with that! If you pull it off, it’ll be GREAT news for everyone who bleeds Titan blue.

bwisnasky says:Aug 31, 2011 6:08 AM

All we needed was the Hard Knocks crew following them around… didn’t we see this same drama a couple of years ago with Revis.. and miraculously the deal got done right before the regular season?

marthisdil says:
Aug 30, 2011 10:08 PM
They shoulda let him rot. Sit out 2 years…by then his skills will be next to nothing.

Players under contract need to uphold them. If they wanna protest and sit out, let em sit out, rack up the fines that they have to pay back when they come back, groveling, for a paycheck.
—-
The same way NFL teams uphold them? Oh wait, they don’t. That’s why you only here about guaranteed money with NFL contracts. MLB and NBA players get whatever their full contract is worth. NFL will drop you on a dime after the year you get injured or restructure your contract if you take a step back in your game. To think the players shouldn’t do the same is hypocritical.

———–

Except one thing – the player agrees to the terms of their contract that gives teams an out. Just as the players have a right to sit out and not get paid. It’s the same for either side. Team can cut a player, player can go to another team, etc, etc. Player can be unhappy with what he’s getting paid (which he agreed to), sit out, earn a $30k a day fine, and let his short-life skills (as it is with RBs) rot.

It’s equal on both sides BECAUSE THEY BOTH AGREE TO IT.

If the players don’t like the idea of being cut, they and their agents should have pushed for more guaranteed money…or a clause where they couldn’t be cut, or whatever. Once you sign on the bottom line, you agree to the terms set forth in the contract (and under the bylaws of the overall agreement between the league and the union).

as such, I sincerely hope Tennessee doesn’t give in…forces Chris to either play his final 2 years under his contract, or sit and rot for 2 years. Either way, Tennessee comes out ahead. If he sits and rots, they don’t have to pay him AND he has to pay the team a huge amount in fines.

Good for you CJ. Judging from the comments few people on this blog would have cared if you blew out your knee while playing on your current contract and missing out on your one true pay day so just do what’s best for you.

The decision for CJ to sit down is more than sound. His 26 years old. If he plays out his rookie contract (a contract based on where his was drafted not on his talent) then he’ll be a 28 year old running back going into free agency at a position that lasts only 3 years and for those who are productive for a while once they reach late 20s early 30s teams will not hand out big contracts.

So the choice was put more wear and tear on his body while giving the Titans elite running back play at $800,000 or sit out, keep his body from getting banged up in the hopes of finally signing what his talents dictates. Oh and for the fools saying his giving up money by sitting out I sure wouldn’t want you as my financial advisers.

even if the probability of getting that deal is only 20% CJ still more than double his contract…..if he doesn’t get the deal he comes back in time to get credit for this year and has added benefit of not putting wear and tear on his body.

PAY THE MAN. He’s earned it. He beat himself up for your pathetic franchise all year without a QB, Bud.

And he’s set to get 350 carries and less than 1,400 yards this year again, because of it. Pay him at the very least. MERCY.

ocgunslinger says:Aug 31, 2011 10:00 PM

Running backs are expendable. It doesn’t make sense to put so much $$$$ into a running back. High injury risk and short careers. He would have good trade value right now and it would be a win-win for him, the team and the team who is missing that one piece for a run to the SB.